SAGINAW COUNTY, MI — A dairy cow from a Saginaw County farm has tested positive for bovine tuberculosis, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

In a press release, sent out Thursday, March 21, MDA reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa confirmed a positive bovine TB test performed on the lymph nodes of the Saginaw County cow.

MDA states that slaughter surveillance led to the discovery of the bovine TB strain, which is only found in Michigan cows and deer.

"Slaughter surveillance is an important part of the food safety net. USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service is charged with removing anything that looks suspicious from the food system," said Kevin Besey, MDA's food and dairy division director, in the release. "Although pasteurization kills the bacteria and is an important component of public health, MDA will not permit milk from reactor animals to be sold for human or animal consumption."

A quarantine and additional tests have been utilized to ensure safety, according to MDA's state veterinarian.

"In accordance with our bovine TB response plan, the farm has been quarantined and a whole-herd test conducted," said Dr. Steven Halstead, via the press release. "Some animals responding to the on-farm test have been necropsied at Michigan State University's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Samples collected at necropsy are undergoing further diagnostic tests to confirm TB and these tests may take days to weeks. Since Saginaw County is in a bovine TB Free area, we are moving quickly to stamp out and contain the disease at this one location."

MDA has not released the name of the farm, but have said a visit will be made to the Saginaw County location, at which time they will evaluate security measures, sales record, purchases, and more.

Bovine tuberculosis can impact all mammals but is especially common in cattle. Michigan, with the exception of a few zones - Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Oscoda counties - which still experience bovine TB outbreaks, is considered a bovine TB-free state. MDA said they do not expect the positive test in Saginaw County to change that status.